The way the coffee drinkers of Canberra greeted Josh Frydenberg on Wednesday made it plain the Treasurer will be the government’s best asset in winning back city voters when the charm offensive gets under way for next week’s budget.
That makes Frydenberg the most useful leader to campaign with Dave Sharma in Wentworth, Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney, Gladys Liu in Chisholm and Tim Wilson in Goldstein. These are the streets Peter Dutton cannot walk down. Not easily, at least. The Defence Minister can be used in Queensland but not in Sydney or Melbourne. Morrison, meanwhile, will only be a liability for Liberals who need to hold their seats close to the city centres.
The central assumption of the budget is that the rate of economic growth will outpace the interest rate on the debt, allowing debt to subside as a proportion of GDP over time. The assumption is hostage to global interest rates. There is no pledge in sight to reduce debt in absolute terms, so what if those rates increase? Just when Australia thinks it is jogging comfortably on the treadmill of global financial markets, it could be left out of breath when the machine speeds up.
The essential yardstick in Frydenberg’s budget, and the holy grail for the Liberals, is that taxes will stay below 23.9 per cent of GDP. This was the average during the years when John Howard was prime minister and has become a self-imposed restraint on the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments. It has helped deliver what many voters want: lower taxes and smaller government. But it also looks like an artificial number from an ancient era.
CroweDM The age propaganda machine rolls on. Mr Frydenberg is not a friendly face nor is he popular in Melbourne.
CroweDM Your opinion is not worth the paper it’s printed on. Get in the bin with your mate
CroweDM I wld hardly describe a Treasurer whose flawed planning of pandemic financial support enabled rich to get richer as “asset”to anyone.Nor one who thinks its OK for underclass live on $48 a day. IM0 his rival Dr Monique Ryan in Kooyong is exceptional candidate.
CroweDM Cant agree on him being an asset or a frenziedly face maybe if your well of ,or a billionaire .
CroweDM Unpopular ? How do you describe the Andrews government then ? No one was protesting the federal government the federal government didn’t lock us down, or force us to lose our businesses and our minds. Sounds like a media beat up Victoria
CroweDM trying to buy votes won't work
CroweDM There is absolutely nothing Morrisson can say or do to win my vote back. I would vote postman Pat in, just to see The lib/Nat asses leaving gov. Not making same mistake again.
CroweDM Greg Hunt retiring won’t help
CroweDM
CroweDM Crowey obviously under enormous pressure to keep his job? Friendly face? 😂
CroweDM Best Treasurer Australia has ever had.
CroweDM not in Victoria
CroweDM Mr Frydenberg is in trouble in Kooyong. Its not the safe Liberal seat it used to be. He is seen as distant and not in touch with local issues.
CroweDM Hahahaha dream on🙄
CroweDM Haha friendly face Victoria will remember all the crap he put on Victoria.
CroweDM Frydenberg is not worth voting for kooyong is desperate for change LNPfail
CroweDM Ummm, no.
CroweDM 🤣🤣🤣🤣
CroweDM JoshFrydenberg is the government’s best asset? Mister unbelievably boring with a personality bypass
CroweDM The guy who bullied donors to Climate 200? The guy who bullied JulieAnnFinney2 over the death of her son? The guy who bullied Victorians during the worst of the Covid period? Sending a theme? If he’s the best option then the cupboard is truly bare.
CroweDM If frydenberg is the libs best asset, they’re in more trouble then I imagined
CroweDM Friendly face he’s loathed in Victoria.
CroweDM Just checking my calendar, nope it’s not April 1 ! It’s not The Age parody account … What kind of BS is this post … many Aussies don’t like him, not just Victorians!
CroweDM Hard NO!
CroweDM Same energy AusPol